Roots & Beginnings

The Vicarage By The Sea was founded in 1998 with the desire to make a difference for those living with dementing illnesses.
roots of dementia care at the vicarage

Esther, an artist and gentle soul, retained her graceful demeanor and awareness of beauty in the natural world throughout her illness.

The Vicarage By The Sea was founded with the desire to make a difference for those living with dementia.”

Johanna Wigg, Ph.D., cared for her grandmother with dementia, Esther Peterson, while in graduate school. The experience sparked a passionate, lifelong commitment to honoring those with this disease.

Early research represented those with dementia as human shells who had lost their identities when memory failed. As a result, Johanna and Cheryl set out to improve the social and psychological realms for elders living with dementia. By offering empathic, holistic care in a non-institutional setting, they transformed a bed and breakfast into a person-centered home for long-term dementia care.

Today, their vision continues.

 

Meet Our Staff

BDN: How this home in Maine is giving normalcy to people living with dementia

Advocating for the whole person living with dementia

Person Centered Approach to Dementia Care

Person Centered Care for those living with Dementia

Understanding Dementia: Q&A with Dr. Wigg

Dementia Doesn't Define a Person